Construction employment increased in 42 states and the District of Columbia in May from a year earlier, while only 24 states added construction jobs from April to May, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials said firms are struggling to find new workers amid a lack of funding for construction education programs, keeping monthly employment gains lower in many parts of the country.
“Contractors remain busy nationwide, with bulging order books for future work,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But they are having trouble filling job openings when the industry unemployment rate is only 3.5 percent. That probably accounts for the recent lack of job gains in many states.”
Between May 2022 and May 2023, 42 states and D.C. added construction jobs, while industry employment declined in seven states and held steady in Vermont.
Top states for job gains
Texas added the most jobs over the year (21,100 jobs, 2.7 percent), followed by:
New York (12,900 jobs, 3.3 percent)
Ohio (8,400 jobs, 3.6 percent)
Oregon (8,000 jobs, 7.0 percent).
Arkansas had the largest percentage increase over last year (10.2 percent, 5,800 jobs), followed by
Nebraska (7.8 percent, 4,400 jobs)
Oregon (6.3 percent, 6,600 jobs)
Nevada (6.3 percent, 6,600 jobs)
Idaho (6.3 percent, 4,100 jobs)
For the month, California added the most jobs (6,500 jobs, 0.7 percent), followed by
Virginia (2,600 jobs, 1.2 percent)
Georgia (1,800 jobs, 0.8 percent)
Louisiana (1,700 jobs, 1.3 percent).
The largest percentage gains for the month occurred in Louisiana (1.3 percent), followed by
Virginia (1.1 percent, 700 jobs)
Arkansas (1.1 percent, 700 jobs)
New Mexico (1.0 percent, 500 jobs)
New Hampshire (1.0 percent, 300 jobs).
Top states for job losses
Colorado lost the most jobs year over year (-1,800 jobs, -1.0 percent), followed by
Connecticut (-1,600 jobs, -2.6 percent)
Missouri (-1,200 jobs, -0.9 percent)
Connecticut had the largest percentage loss, followed by
South Dakota (-1.6 percent, -400 jobs)
West Virginia (-1.3 percent, -400 jobs).
Indiana experienced the largest decline in construction jobs in May (-2,500 jobs, -1.5 percent), followed by
Illinois (-2,400 jobs, -1.0 percent)
North Carolina (-2,400 jobs, -0.9 percent).
Rhode Island had the largest percentage loss for the month (-4.9 percent, -1,100 jobs), followed by
South Dakota (-2.7 percent, -700 jobs)
Source: AGC
